The H’a H’a Tumxulaux (Sacred Land) Program

Congratulations, Marilyn, on your honor, your leadership, your persistence in the face and jaws of extreme personal and anti-Indian adversity, your dignity, your integrity; for your successful development of Sinixt-based curriculum, highlighting your life’s work in testimony, and for your vast network of supporters and contributors to Sinixt First Nation “Sacred Land” profiles. We know, and now many more will know, you have done this out of love for your Ancestors, for Eva and Alvina: And, for your friends and loyal colleagues, and for the children now and for the future, cataloging this wisdom and knowledge on the written page, out of your seemingly endless knowledge in Sinixt oral tradition; and for the Water Peoples, the Land Peoples, the Flying Peoples, and All Sacred Things.

Lim limt. Lim limt. Lim limt. Lim limt.

- Lou Stone

P.S. Enjoy the Canadian Education Association sessions in Vancouver, BC, as your national Canadian educators learn about this beautiful contribution to their careers ensuring the success of their students and those of future generations.

Youth despair and depression have been pushed aside by daring to dream a future for themselves.

Marilyn James, Kathryn McCooeye and Nathan Robinson

H’a H’a Tumxuluax means “Sacred Land” in the language of the Sinixt people, who are the hereditary Nation to the Arrow Lakes region of B.C. This keynote presentation will share how educators have succeeded at leveraging traditional Indigenous principles, protocols and concepts while developing a culturally relevant, land-based, project-based outdoor education program for at-risk youth. Learn how a teaching formula based on Indigenous ways of knowing and learning through traditional ceremonies, language, and history was designed to ensure that students acquire the skills to form a positive, healthy relationship to self, others and to Mother Earth. Get inspired by how this program has successfully engaged parents and Elders from the community to train staff to ensure that all cultural protocols and sacred laws have been honoured. As a result, students’ suicidal ideation and addictions have transformed into life affirming hope – their despair and depression have been pushed aside by daring to dream a future for themselves. This uplifting how-to presentation will encourage Elders, Knowledge Keepers and educators of all colours to rise up and replicate their own variation of this program in their school district and community.